Ripples of kindness

“Your single good deed, big or small, can inspire others and cause a ripple effect of kindness that continues to grow as others join in. Start something today — the more people who take action, the larger your ripple will become.”

~ Yahoo! Motherboard, The Kindness Ripple

This time of year seems to bring out a lot of anxious and angry people in my neck of the woods. Everyone drives like a maniac, lots of pushing and shoving through the stores, and very few people actually smile. It makes me sad, considering this is supposed to be the “happiest season” and all.

So when Yahoo sent me the information on the How Good Grows project, I happily jumped in. At first I thought about giving the money to a charity, but I already do that on my own. So I decided to wait until an unplanned opportunity jumped at me.

One day earlier this month it was below freezing with 40 MPW. I had a minivan full of kids and we were headed to Chick-Fil-A for lunch. (grilled chicken! fruit!) As I sat in the drive thru line, (because there was no way I was unloading all my kids in that crazy cold), it hit me. Everyone around me could use some holiday cheer and kindness.

When I got to the checkout window, I told the employee that I would like to pay for all the cars behind me. (there were 5). I briefly explained Yahoo’s mission and asked that ask the other cars to somehow pay it forward to create their own ripples.

After I pulled away I watched as each of those cars drove up and were told they didn’t need to pay. Every single one of those drivers left with a smile on their face. Something as small as a $10 lunch had made their day. 🙂

Is there someone in your life (or maybe you?) that could use a ripple of kindness? Leave me a comment below and let me know.

To read more about Yahoo’s How Good Grows project and all the ripples around you, visit the website

Thank you Yahoo for giving me some much needed smiles during this holiday season.

Disclosure: I was given money from Yahoo! to help create kindness ripples.

Comments

It makes a difference, little or small, it really does. This Christmas, my girl and I are able to celebrate together only because a pool of people got together and purchased her plane ticket out here from her dad’s. And bike that’s waiting downstairs for her? Some random stranger gave it me to give to her. For no reason other than they heard that a kid could use a bike (I didn’t even ask…word got out somehow). Christmas with my daughter would not have happened, if not for these kind-hearted souls.

These people have made this Christmas for me, for my girl, and I will always remember. I live my life trying to give to others everything I can; even if it’s not financial, I help anyway I can. I am struggling big time, but I hope next year I am more successful so I am able to pay such kindness forward. It makes me happy to hear you helped others, even with a small thing as a meal.

I just love hearing these stories. Alicia, you must have done many nice things for others because you certainly were showered with kindness. I hope you and your girl have a lovely Christmas celebrating and living in kindness!

I worked in school as a teacher and I loved to do a babysitter lottery during the month of December , is basically one or two families that I worked during the year have a two or three hours of free babysitter as they need for one day it could a morning babysitter if they need to finish a Christmas shopping or night if the parents like to go to the movie theater. It makes me feel so good during this month and I am sure they too. They know me as a teacher and as a friend.
Merry Christmas everyone!

There is always who needs ripples of kindness, maybe I need some kindness today as I may spend this Christmas alone 🙁 with my Labrador Retriever. I just checked yahoo “How good grows” and I really liked the idea. It is good to now there is still good in this world, even in these days.